Twelve verses from verse 72 to 83 involve physical description of Parāśakti. It is always believed that Śaṁkarācārya was an incarnation of Śiva and thus every aspect of Her is known to Śaṁkarācārya. I consider that such narrations should not be discussed in a public domain and hence, interpretations of these verses have been left out. Kāñci Paramācārya has chosen not to interpret many verses of Saundaryalaharī saying that one should be extremely careful in worshipping Divine Mother.
Verse 84
श्रुतीनां मूर्धानो दधति तव यौ शेखरतया
ममाप्येतौ मातः शिरसि दयया धेहि चरणौ।
ययोः पाद्यं पाथः पशुपतिजटाजूटतटिनी
ययोर्लाक्षालक्ष्मीररुणहरिचूडामणिरुचिः॥
śrutīnāṁ mūrdhāno dadhati tava yau śekharatayā
mamāpyetau mātaḥ śirasi dayayā dhehi caraṇau |
yayoḥ pādyaṁ pāthaḥ paśupatijaṭājūṭataṭinī
yayorlākṣālakṣmīraruṇaharicūḍāmaṇiruciḥ ||
tava – Yours; yau caraṇau – those feet; śrutīnāṁ mūrdhāna – crown of Vedas viz. Upaniṣad-s; dadhati –wearing; śekharatayā - wearing as crown; etau – Your feet; mama śirasi api dayayā dhehi – place (Your feet) on my head out of compassion; yayoḥ pādyaṁ pāthaḥ - (which is like) washing Your sacred feet; paśupati jaṭā jūṭa taṭinī – is that the river (Ganges) who resides in the matted hair of Śiva; yayo – those feet of Yours; lākṣā lakṣmīḥ - splendorous henna (which turns the feet into deep red); aruṇa hari cūḍāmaṇi ruciḥ - (is that due to) the brilliance of cūḍāmaṇi gem of Viṣṇu’s crown?
“O! Parāśakti! Out of compassion for me, please keep Your feet on my head too. Your feet are considered as crown which Upaniṣad-s adorn. Your feet are cleansed by waters of Ganges, who resides at the top of Śiva’s matted hair. I also think that the redness of Your feet (due to the application of henna) is due to cūḍāmaṇi gem of Viṣṇu’s crown.”
The verse says that She is worshiped by everyone including Śiva and Viṣṇu. This is conveyed in this verse in the most subtle manner. She is not being just worshiped by Śiva and Viṣṇu, but also prostrate before Her, keeping their heads very close to Her feet. Śaṁkarācārya subtly conveys this by saying that waters of Ganges in Śiva’s matted hair cleanse Her feet (offering water to the feet of gods and goddesses is part of rituals and this is known as pādaprakṣālana). This is possible only if Śiva bends down before Her to pay His respects to Her. When He bends, waters from Ganges fall on Her feet in order to wash Her feet. This does not mean that Ganges cleanses Her feet. In order to pay Her respects to Her, Gaṅgā also moves slightly forward and while doing so, Ganges stealthily falls at Her feet to cleanse herself (Gaṅgā). She has attained impurity because everyone washer their sins by taking bath in river Ganges. A question may arise that when she is residing on Śiva’s head, where is the need for Gaṅgā to get cleansed by Parāśakti. Śiva does not attend to these minuscule activities and it is only Her, who alone can make a person eligible to merge with Śiva. This aspect is also subtly conveyed here.
Her feet appear deep red in complexion. This is Her natural complexion as described in dhyāna verses of Lalitā Sahasranāma (Sindūrāruṇa-vigrahāṃ and aruṇāṃkaruṇā-taraṃgitākṣīṃ); and Mahāṣoḍaśī mantra japa (sindūrāruṇa vigrahāṁ). Her feet are not just red in colour, but they are radiating too. Śaṁkarācārya wonders whether this is due to the cūḍāmaṇi gem embedded in Viṣṇu’s crown. When Viṣṇu brings His head down in order to pay His respects, Her feet become more splendorous with deep red colour. Some Scriptures say that Viṣṇu is Her elder brother.
Śaṁkarācārya does not want anything from Her. After personally seeing that both Śiva and Viṣṇu place their heads on Her feet in order to pay their respects, he only pleads with Her to keep Her feet on his head, so that he attains eternal liberation.
Crown of Vedas is various Upaniṣad-s, as Upaniṣad-s prescribe ways and means to attain Brahman, who is elucidated through Vedas. In other words, the subtle conveyance Vedas are in the form of various Upaniṣad-s. Vedas also elucidate Brahman through various conveyances; but they are interpreted on the grosser side. Since Upaniṣad-s are easier to understand, when compared to Vedas. Hence, Upaniṣad-s are revered as the crown of Vedas. The meaning is also conveyed in Mūkapañcaśatī (pādāravindaśtakam – verse 24). He says, “Your sacred feet are the ultimate end of essence of Vedas (Upaniṣad-s)”. When one understands the conveyances of Upaniṣad-s, he needs nothing more to attain liberation.
Raghav
May 28, 2020 09:44 AM
Hi Sir, From where can I practice/read meanings of Mūkapañcaśatī ? Is there any link or PDF you suggest?
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Krishna
May 29, 2020 09:47 AM
You may try this link for an online translation - http://stotram.lalitaalaalitah.com/blog-page_15
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